Apparatus for effecting indication and signal control by transient direct current



. M3) 19, 1953 P. N. MARTIN 2,639,379

APPARATUS FOR EFFECTING INDICATION AND SIGNAL CONTROL BY TRANSIENT DIRECT CURRENT Filed Sept. 20, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet l a If 3X ZVX IP00]: L 126 g F01 'afn z al Czrc'uz'zr Track 22 Fig. 1

31H 1 I 9 {For T1 0031? Signal Foz ozzzl'ol zroaz'fr? Two]: 22'

IN ENTOR Paul N I'zz'n HIS ATTORNEY y 1953 P. N. MARTIN 2,639,370

I APPARATUS FOR EFFECTING INDICATION AND SIGNAL CONTROL BY TRANSIENT DIRECT CURRENT Filed Sept. 20, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 6f I a 1Z1 g B lb 172 (7 2F I i i [Wm I 11 2122 Z61 BX A2 2 Y I 11 m2 r Y 18 12 I x ZAP MP i F d 5 Z12! g' az grol 1.6

V C'ipcaz'z 11a Bl Y !VI 21 1% Lb .6 LE

' HIS ATTORNEY y 1953 P. N. MARTIN 2,639,370

APPARATUS FOR EFFECTING INDICATION AND SIGNAL CONTROL BY TRANSIENT DIRECT CURRENT 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Sept. 20, 1946 1.12.2. For

Track 21' Fly. 5

- l F'OP.

T I Trad 5292101 'omz'olireaizy.

y PciulZV. IN 2 32.

HIS ATTORNEY Patented May 19, 1953 APPARATUS FOR EFFECTING INDICATION AND SIGNAL CONTROL BY TRANSIENT DIRECT CURRENT Paul N. Martin,

Penn Township,

Allegheny County, Pa., assignoi' to Westinghouse Air Brake Company, a corporation of Pennsylvania Application September 20, 1946, Serial No. 698,354

1 My invention relates to electrical control apparatus', and particularly to indication control apparatus'and to signal control apparatus including apparatus for providing crossover protection for trains moving along railway tracks which are connected with each other by a crossover track through hand-operated track switches.

In order to, save line conductor material, various means have been devised for employing any given pair of conductors for more than one electrical circuit. One of such'means is the use of coded current.

A requisite'for crossover protection apparatus is that it must be so arranged that a car or locomotive while occupying a crossover, such for example as one connecting two main tracks, While the switches are in the normal position for train movements along the main tracks, will cause a signal for each main track to indicate stop if the car or locomotive is within fouling distance of that main track. In crossover protection schemes embodying track circuits, one characteristic should therefore be high shunting sensitivity in order to insure that the crossover track cir-' cuits will be shunted if the crossover track has high contact resistance due to infrequency of train movements over the crossover.

, One feature of my invention is the provision of means for producing transient direct current in the primary winding of a given transformer by starting or interrupting direct current which is fiowing through a secondary winding of the same transformer. Transient direct current thus produced in the primary winding of a transformer can then be transmitted over a given pair of conductors for controlling indication or signalcontrol apparatus, and at the same time the given pair of conductors can be in use for some other purpose. y

I shall describe six forms of apparatus embodying my invention, and shall then point out the novel features thereof in claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Fig. lis a diagrammatic view showin one form of apparatus embodying my invention, in which the primary circuit of a given transformer includes a suitable source of current and the rails of one portion of a crossover track, and the secondary circuit of the given transformer includes the rails of another.

. portion of thesame crossover track, and also includes an asymmetric unit and a contact of a coding device; Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view. showing a modified form of the apparatus of Fig. 1, in which a contact of a coding device is included in the primary circuit of the transformer 18 Claims. (Cl. -246219) instead'of in the secondary circuit; Fig, 3 is a diagrammatic view showing a further modified form of the apparatus of Fig. l, for providingreverse control or indication from the entrance end to the exit end of a section of railway track in Which normal control is provided from the exit end to the entrance end; Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view showing still another modification of the apparatus of Fig. l, for controlling an electrical indication or control device over a power line'or other control or indication circuit; Fig. 5 is a dia-' grammatic view showing a modification of the form of apparatus shown in Fig. 2, in which a neutral code detecting relay is used which does not follow code; and Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view showing a modification of the form of apparatus shown in Fig. 5 in which the neutral code detect-- ing relay is used to detect operation of a coding contact in an alternating current track'circuit for controlling coded'cab signals, for example.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts in each of the views.

Referring first to Fig. l a stretch of railway is shown comprising two main tracks, designated by the reference characters IT and 2T, connected with each other by a crossover track, designated by the reference character 3T, through hand-op erated switches [W and 2W. Track 3T is divided by means of. insulated joints 4 into two sections a--b and b c.

Primary winding m of a transformer 2F is con-' nected across the rails of sectiton ab adjacent the insulated joints at b, and secondary winding 11 of this transformer is connected across the rails of section bc. A source of alternating current; shown as a secondary winding (2 of a transformer |F,' is connected through an impedance 5, which may preferably be a resistor, across the rails of the oppositeend of section ab, adjacent the insulated joints at a. Primary winding m of transformer IF is energized from a suitable source having terminals BX and NX.

A code-following track relay of the polar stick type, designated by the reference character 3R, is connected in multiple with secondary winding d of transformer IF across the rails of section 41- -1). However, by use of a suitable winding on relay 3R, this relay could beoperated in series with secondary winding'd of transformer IF. A primary winding m, of a decoding transformer designated'by the reference character SP, is repeatedly energized alternately in opposite directions by current from a suitable source having terminals B and N controlled by contact 1 of relay 3R. The resulting alternating current generated in sec' across the rails of section b--c through an asymmetric unit Y adjacent the insulated joints at c.

Coding device CT is connected directlywithtenminals B and N, and thereforeconta'ct' 6 of coding device CT is repeatedly closed and opened.

Referring now to Fig. 2, the. arrangementhere shown is exactly as in Fig. 1 except. thatcontact 6 of coding device CT is connected'inseries-with.

secondary winding d of transformer IF instead of in series with asymmetric unit Y;

Referring next to Fig. 3, a stretch of. railway track IT is shown divided by insulated joints 4 into. sections a.--b and br'r'c- Trafiic normally moves. over thistrack in the direction indicated by the arrow, and therefore I shall refer to the end of section. -1;. at b asthe entrance end,,and the opposite end at a as theexit end.

Primary winding m of a transformer 2F is connected across the rails at the entrance end of. section. M1), and a source of alternating current shown assecondary winding :1. of a trans, former 1F is connected across. therails of the exit end of section a -h through a usual impedance and a contact 6 of a coding device CT. Primary winding m of transformer IF is energized. from a. source having terminals BX. and NX. Coding device CT is constantly energized from a suitable source having terminals Band N, and therefore its contact Gisrepeatedly closing and opening theprimary circuitfor winding m of transformer 2F.

Two code-following relaya. designated bythe reference characters. IAR and ZAR, respectively, of the biased polar type, are connected in 'multiple with each other and with secondary windd of. transformer IF across therailsof section ale-b. Slow-release code-detecting. relays IAP andi'AP are controlled by contacts of relays IAR and. ZAR, respectively, and by a contact l6 oficoding device CT. An-indication device or. any other suitable electricaldevice, such for example as lamps le and 2e, may be controlled by each oi the relays IAP and ZAP, respectively.

A. secondary winding idv of. transformer. 2F is connected through a rectifier, designated by the reference character RC, for energizing a codefollowing track. relay ITR. Contact [3t of relay 1TB, by repeatedly closing at its front and back points alternately, effects energization. ofv pria mary winding m of. decoding, transformerth from. terminals B and. N. Contact M of relay I'I'R,.through repeated closing. of. its front and back. points alternately, effects rectificationv of the alternating current generated in secondary winding (1 of transformer 31? for energizing a slow pick-up. and slow releasecode-detecting relay. IRP. A signal. controlcircuitmay becontrolled by contact [5 of. relay lRP.

Another. secondary winding 2d of transformer 2F is included in a. secondary circuit in. which contact 12 of relay ITR is in series with. the

frontpointof contact I (of a track relay 2TB and an asymmetric unit. IY, or. is. in series withthe. back point of contact I l of relay 2TH. anda second asymmetric unit ZY. The selectionbetween asymmetric units lY and ZY may be effected in any other suitable manner. As here shown,.r.e-

4 lay 2TB is connected across the rails adjacent one end of section b-c, and is energized by a battery 24 connected across the rails adjacent the other end of section b--c.

Referring to Fig. 4, the conductors of a power lineor other. control or. indication. circuit L are shown energized" from terminals BX'land NX of an alternating current source for energizing a load which may be any suitable electrical device. Primary winding m of a transformer 2F is connected across the conductors of line L. A codefollowing relay'3R/ of the polar stick type is also connected across the conductors of line L. A transformer 3E anda slow pick-up slow release code-detecting relay 3RP are controlled by relay 3% similarly to. the: manner in which transformer 3F. and relay 3RP', shown in Fig. 1, are controlled as" already described; Any suitable electrical device". orsindication control circuit may be controlled by contact 22 of relay 3RP.

Secondary winding (1 of transformer. 2F isineluded. in. a secondary circuit inseries. with a contact 6. of'a coding device CT. an asymmetric unitY; andiasuitable impedance 23. Coding device CT may bev controlled in any suitable mannen. such. for example as by a manually controllable device. P as. shown in the drawing.

Asuitableresistor or a lowreactance blocking condenser 21. may be required in one. side of'the line circuit L to preventthe alternating current source from shunting the direct current which energizes relay 3R.

Referringnow. to Fig, 5,.the arrangement here shown is similar to that. shown in, Fig. 2. except that in Fig. 5 aneutral' code detecting. relay Am, which doesnot follow code isusedinstead ofthe polar code following relay, 3R and thecode-detecting transformer. 3F and relay, 3R?" shown in Fig. 2'. A resistor 26 is connected across the windings. of relay A3Rtto make this relay slow releasingandalso to protect contact 25 of cod.- ing device CT against arcing.

Referring finally to Fig. 6'. a" neutral codedetectingrelay A3R2such as is shown in Fig.5 is here used merely to detect that contact 25. of coding, device CT is operating in a circuit, such f r mple as a track. circuit for coded cab signaling. In the event of failure of codin device CTtQ operate, relay A3R would become deenergized and would open the trackcircuit.

The asymmetric units shown in the drawings may be ofithe well-known half-wave copper oxide; rectifier type.

" As is well recognized, traclscircuits in which the current is periodically interrupted; as shown in. Figs. 1, 2', 3,. 5. and 6, inherently have high shuntingv sensitivity.

, Having described, in general, the arrangement and operation of the apparatus, I shall nowdescribe its operation more in detail.

As shown in Figs. 1, 2., 3', 5 and 6 of the drawings, all parts are in the normalcondition and, as shown in Fig. 4, all parts are in the condition in which the manually controllable contact P is closed; primary winding m of'each of the transformers 2F'is energized; secondary winding d of each ot these transformers is supplying only half-wave direct current to its secondary circuit because of being in series with an asymmetric unit Y; thiscurrent in the secondary circuit of transformer 2F is being periodically started and interrupted by a coding contact in the secondary circuit of the transformer 2B in Figs. 1 and 4, and by. a coding contact in the primary. circuit of, transformer 2F in Figs. 2, 3, 5 and 6 each time the direct current is started in the secondary winding of any of the transformers 2F, a direct'current transient voltage of a given polarity is produced in its primary winding, and each time the direct current is interrupted in the secondary windingof any one of the transformers 2F, a direct current transient voltage of the opposite polarity is produced in its primary winding; each of the relays 3R is operating its contacts between the normal and the reverse posi-' tion in response to the transient direct current of opposite polarities; each relay 3RP is there fore energized; with contact I I of relay 2TR closed at its front point, relay IAR in Fig.-3 closes its contact each time the direct current is started in the secondary circuit which includes secondary winding 2d of transformer 2F, and

relay ZAR closesits contact each time this current is interrupted by the opening of contact 6 of coding device CT; relay I TR in Fig. 3 is energized each time contact 6 of coding device CT is closed: relays IAP, ZTR and IRP in Fig. 3 are energized; lamp la is lighted; each time when coding device CT, shown in Figs. 5 and 6, closes its front contacts, theupper winding of relay A3R, as shown in the drawing, is energizedfin a direction to close its front contacts, by transient direct current of a given polarity produced in primary winding m of transformer 2F; and each time when coding device CT, shown in Figs. 5 and 6, closes its back contacts, the lower winding of relay A3R, is energized; in a direction to retain the front contacts of relay A3R closed, by transient direct current of the opposite polarity produced in primary winding m of transformer The secondary circuit for transformer 2F- passes from secondary winding d of transformer 2F, through rail 3a of section bc, contact 6 of coding device CT, asymmetric unit Y, and rail 32) of section b-c back to winding d of transformer 2F. I

Relay 3R'is energized by transient direct current of alternately normal and reverse polarities in a circuit passing from primary winding mof transformer 2F, through rail 3a of section 0 -h,-

winding of relay 3R, and rail 3b of section a/'-b back to primary winding m of transformer 2F.

Each time contact 6 of coding device CT closes, transient direct current of a given polarity is produced in the circuit of primary windingm of transformer 2F for energizing relay SR, and each time contact 6 of coding device CT opens, transient direct current of the opposite polarity is supplied fromprimary winding m of transformer 2F for energizing relay 3R.

Relay 3R operates its contacts and 8 between normal and' reverse positions in response to the transient direct current of alternately normal and reverse polarities. As already stated, transformer 315 is energized in response to op' eration of contact I of relay 3R between its nor- .mal and reverse positions, and the alternating current generated in winding d of transformer 3F is rectified by contact 8 of relay 3R for energizing relay 3RP. Contacts 9 and ID of relay 3RP may be included in signal control circuits for tracks IT and 2T, as shown in the drawing.

:When a train enters section a-.-b, the current from secondary winding (1 of transformer IF will be shunted through the wheels and axles of the train, and hence transformer 2F will be deenergized and no current will flow in secondary winding d of transformer 2F. Therefore no transient direct current will be produced, and hence relay 3R will retain its contacts I and 8 in the position to which they were last previously operated. No current will be generated in secondary winding it of transformer 3F, and hence relay 3R? will become deenergized and open the signal con-' trol circuits. When section bc is occupied by a train, alternating current from secondary winding d of transformer 2F will be shunted through the wheels and axles of the train, and therefore no direct current will flow from secondarywinding a of transformer 2F, and hence relay 3R. will again become inoperative, causing relay 3RP to become deenergized and open the signal control circuits.

In the modified form of the apparatus shown in Fig. 2, the primary circuit for transformer 2F is the same as shown in Fig. 1 except that itincludes, in addition, contact 6 of coding device CT. The secondary circuit for transformer 2F is the same as in Fig. 1 except that contact 6 of coding device CT is omitted.

In Fig. 2, each time contact 6 of coding device CT closes the primary circuit for transformer 2F, direct current is started in the secondary circuit of this transformer, and each time contact 6 opens the primary circuit for transformer 2F, direct current is interrupted in the secondary circuit of this transformer. Relay'ilR, therefore,operates its contacts between normal and reverse positions, as described for Fig. 1, causing transformer 3F to energize relay 3RP which closes the signal control circuits as already described for Fig. 1.

In Fig. '3, the primary circuit including winding m of transformer 2F passes from secondary winding it of transformer IF, through impedance 5, rail l a of section a'b, primary winding m of transformer 2F, rail lb of section a--b, and contact 6 of coding device CT back to secondary winding (1 of transformer IF. The secondary circuit which includes secondary winding Id of transformer 2F energizes relay ITR through a rectifier RC which may be of the well-known copper oxide type.

Each time contact 6 of coding device CT opens theprimary circuit including winding m of transformer 2F, contacts I2, !3 and I4 of relay ITR open at their front points, and contacts 13 and I4 become closed at their back points. Each time contact 6 closes the primary circuit for winding m of transformer 2F, contacts !2, l3 and I4 close at their front points. The closing of contact l3 at its front and back points effects energization of primary winding m of transformer 3F alternately in oppositedirections. The alternating current thus generated in secondary winding (1 of transformer SP is rectified by operation of contact l4 to its front and back points for energizing code detectingrelay IRP, contact l5 of which may be included in a signal control circuit.

With relay ZTR energized, as shown in the drawing, the secondary circuit, including winding 2d of transformer 2F, passes from winding 2d, throughasymmetric unit lY, front point of contact ll of relay 2TB, and contact I2 of relay ITR. back to winding 2d. Each time contact 5 of cod ing device CT becomes closed while the front point of contact I l of relay 2TB, is closed, relay TAR becomes energized by transient direct. current generated in primary winding m. of. transformer 2F, passing fromnprimary.winding mitln'ough rail lb of section a--b, winding ofrelay: IA'R, and rail la, on section w-b back toz winding m;

With relay IAR energizedtwhile thEIflOHtBJGt-SiOf coding deviceCT areclosedrelay: lAPbecomes energized by a circuit passing from terminal; B, through contact l6 of coding device CT, contact I !v of relay IAR, and the winding. of. relay IAP to terminal N. With relay iAP energized, contact l9.of'this.relay becomes closedinthe circuit for energizing indication .device is. Each time when contact 6 of. coding device CT opens while relay 2TRJis energized, relay ZAR becomes energized by transient'current. but at this time, contact it of codingdevice CT is also-open, and'lience relay ZAP does not become energized;

If a train should enter section IT, primary winding m of transformer 2F would. become deenergized, and hence no direct. current wouldbe generated in secondary winding 2d. oftransformer2F. Relay IAEbeing responsive only, to direct current: would therefore become. deenergized, causing'relay MP. to also become. deenergized and indication device leto become deenergized.

If relay 2TB becomes;deenergized,.then each timewhen contact 6. of. coding device-CT closes, direct current will flow in the. opposite direction through secondary, winding. 2d of transformer 2F in: a circuit which includes asymmetric unit 2Y and the backpointof contact I! of relay 2TB. Transient direct current will then be generated inpr-imary winding m oftransiormer 2F of, the

polarity for energizing. relay ME for closing its contact l8. thereby causing relay 2AP'and lamp Zetobecome energized; Relay IAR now closes its contact. I! each time contact 6 of coding device CT opens, but since contact 16 of coding device CTis-also'open at thistime, relay lAP remains deener ized.

In Fig, 4, theprimary circuit including. primary winding m of transformer 2F passesfrom terminal:BX,through-conductor La ofcircuit L, winding m of transformer 2F, conductor Lb of circuitiL, and. condenser 21 to terminal NX. If contact]? is closed as shown in the drawing, codingdeviceCT will be energized by an obvious circuit, causing. its contact. 6 to repeatedly close and open. This operation of contactfi of coding device CT inthe secondary circuit fortransformer 2F *causestransient direct current ofopposite polaritiesto be. generated in primary windingm of. transformer 25?, aspreviously described. The secondary circuit including; secondary, winding (1 of transformer 2F passes from windingd; through contact 6 of codingdeviceCT, asymmetric unit Y, and. impedance 23 back to winding :1.

Transformer 3F becomes energized inresponse tooperation of contact I of relay SR, and energizesrelay 3RP, as-described for Fig. 1. With relay 3RP energized, its contact 22 is closed in an indication control circuit.

In Fig. 5, the primary circuit including windingm of transformer 2F passes from secondary winding 12 of transformer IF, through impedance 5, contact 6 of coding device CT, rail lb of section c-b, primary winding'm of transformer 2F, rail Icofsection a--b,,and front point of contact 25 of codingdevice CT back to secondary winding d. of transformer IF. The secondarycircuit which includes secondary winding d oftransformer 2F is similar to that already described for Fig; 2.

Each time .whencontact 2 5 of coding device CT becomes closed at its front point, the upper winding of; relay A311; as shown. in. the drawing; be comes energized by transient direct. current-ate given polarity passing from; primary" winding; m of transformer 2F, through rail: lb of section a-b, upper winding of relay A3R,.frontpointof contact 25 of coding; device CT, and rail. Ia of section w--b backtowinding mof; transformer 2F. Each time whencontact 25 of coding. device-1021 becomes closed at its back point, the lower winding of relayA3R becomes energizedby'transient direct current of theoppositepolarity passingfrom primarywinding m of transformerZF, through rail Ia of section a'b,- back point of contact 25 of coding device C'I', lower winding of relay A312, and rail lb of section c-b back to winding: m. of transformer 2R. With relay A3R thus energized, its contacts 21 and28- will be closed'in signalzconetrolcircuits fortracks- IT and 2T, respectively:

When a train moves over'track 3T, the transient direct current will be" discontinued as already described for-Fig. l, causing relay A3R-to become deenergized-and openits contacts Hand 23 in'signal control circuits for'trachs IT and. 2T.

In Fig. 6, coded cab signaling track circuit cur:-

rent passes from secondary winding d of transformer ll? through impedance 3|;. contact. 610i coding device CT, rail Id of track T,.and-.from rail lb of track T, through contact. 29 of,relay AER, and front point of contact 2510f codingdevice CT to winding d of transformer IF.

The circuit by which primary winding. m of transformer 2F is periodically energized passes from secondary winding; d. of. transformer IF, through impedance 5, Winding m of transformer 25, and front point of contact 250i coding device CT back to winding (1 of transformer lF.

Each time whenlcontact 250i coding deviceC closes at itsfront point, the-upper winding-'ofrrelay AER becomes energized. by. transient direct current of a.givenpolarityspassing from pr ma y winding m of transformer 21'", through thesupper windingof relay ASR, andfront point of contact 25-of coding deviceCT back to primarywindin m oftransiormer 2F. Each time-whencontactaZS 3 of coding device CT. becomes: closedata its back tact 25 of coding device CT, andthelowerwindingof relay AER back towinding-m of-transformer 2F. If. contact 25 0f. coding device-CT should fail to operate, the transient directicun rent will be; discontinued, causing relay A3RtO.

become deenergized andopen its contactsZQ and 30 inthetracir circuit andin an indication-control circuit, respectively.

Although I have herein shown and described only six forms of apparatus embodying-hayinvention, it is understood that various changes and modifications may be made therein withinthe scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope ofmy, invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In combination, a transformer: havinga pria mary winding anda secondary winding, anasi' metric unit, a secondary circuit including" said secondary winding and' said" asymmetric: unit; a source of alternating current energy, E'zdll'SCiifCUI- rent code following device; a' primary circuit for energizing said primary winding f'rom said source with said code following-deviceconnectedin multiple with said source, means for. interrupting the. current in said-secondary circuit forefiectingop- 9. eration of said code following device, and indication means controlled by said code following device.

v 2. .In combination, a transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding, an asymmetric unit, a secondary circuit includingsaid secondary winding and said asymmetric unit, a source of alternating current energy, a direct current code following device, a primary circuit for energizing said primary winding from said source with said code following device connected in mul-v tiple with said source, means for effecting building up of the current in said secondary circuit from zero for effecting operation of said code following device, and indication means controlled by-said code following device. a

' -3. In combination, a transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding, an asymmetric unit, a secondary circuit includingsaid secondary winding and said asymmetric unit,'-a source of alternating current energy, a direct ourrent d'evice, a primary circuit for energizing said primary winding from saidsource with said direct current device connected in multiple with said source, means for coding the current in said secondary circuit for effecting operation of said direct current device, and indication means controlled by said direct current device.

5 4. In electrical control apparatus, the combination comprising, a transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding, an asymmetric unit, a contact, 'means for periodically closing and opening said contact, a secondary circuit including said secondary winding and said asymmetric unit and also said contact all in series, a source of alternating current, a direct current code following device, and a primary circuit for energizing said primary winding from said source with said code following device connected in multiple with said source.

5.- In electrical control apparatus, the combination comprising, a transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding, an asymmetric unit, said asymmetric unit passing current of -a given polarity through said secondary winding but obstructing the flow of current of opposite polarity through said secondary winding so that a direct current component is produced in said secondary winding, a contact, means. for periodically closing and opening said contact, a secondary circuit including said secondary winding and said asymmetricunit, a source of alternating current, a direct current code following device, and a primary circuit for energizing said primary winding from said source through said contact with said code following device connected in multiple with the portion of said primary-circuit' which includes said contact and said source.

}'6. In trafiic protection apparatus in which a stretch of railway track is divided into twosections insulated from each other, the combination comprising, a transformer having a primary winding connected acrossithe rails of one of said sections: and havinga secondary-winding. connected across the rails of the other of said secl tions, an asymmetric unit also connected across the rails of said other section, a coding device, means controlled by said coding device for periodically interrupting the current flowing from said secondary winding through said asymmetric unit, a source of alternating current, and a code following relay connected in multiple with said source across the rails of said one section.

7. In a railway signaling system, the combination comprising, a section of railway track. a

source of alternating current connected across the rails of said section, coding means for periodically disconnecting said source from said section, a code following device connected across the rails of said section, a transformer having a primary winding and two secondary windings and with said primary winding connected across the rails of said section, a second code following device controlled by current from one of said secondary windings, an asymmetric unit, and a circuit including the other secondary winding and said asymmetric unit and controlled by said sec-. ond code following device.

8. In a railway signaling system, the combination comprising, a section of railway track, a sourcev of alternating current connected across the rails of said section, coding means for periodically disconnecting said source from said section, normal and reverse code-following means connected across the rails of said Section, a trans-. former having a primary winding and. a secondary winding and with said primary winding. connected across the rails of said section, a first and a second asymmetric unit, and means for at times including said first asymmetric unit in a circuit for passing current in a given direction from said secondary winding and for at other times including said second asymmetric unit for passing current in the opposite direction from said secondary winding for effecting operation of said normal and reverse code-following means.

9. In combination, a transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding, a primary circuit including a, source of alternating current and said primary winding, means for starting and interrupting direct current through said secondary winding and thereby producing transient direct current in said primary circuit, and electrical apparatus controlled bysaid transient direct current in said primary circuit.

10. In combination, a transformer having a primary winding. and a secondary winding, a primary circuit including a source of alternating current and said primary winding, an asymmetric unit, a secondary circuit including said secondary winding and said asymmetric unit, .means for starting and interrupting the direct current in said secondary circuit controlled by said asyma metric unit and thereby producing transient direct current in said primary circuit, and electrical apparatus controlled by said transient direct current in said primary circuit. I

11. In combination, a transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding, an asymmetric unit, a secondary circuit including said secondary winding and said asymmetric unit, a source of alternating current energy, direct current means, a primary circuit for energizing said primary winding from said source, means forcoding the current in said secondary circuit for producing transient direct current in said primarywwinding for operatingsaid direct cur-' rent means, and indication means controlled by said directcurrent means. l 12 In-izombination,a transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding, a primary circuit including a source of alternating current and said primary winding, means for obstructing the flow of current controlled by onehalf of the alternating voltage wave generated in said secondary winding, means for coding the direct current in said secondary winding to produce transient direct current in said primary winding, and electrical apparatus controlled by said transient direct current.

13.11) combination, a transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding, 'a primary circuit including .a sourcezof alternating current and said primary winding, :means for passingcurrent of only one vpolarity a secondary circuit including said secondary winding and saidmeans for passing current of only one polar.- ity,'means for coding the direct current thus producedlin said secondary circuit and thereby producing transient direct current insaid primary circuit, and electrical apparatus controlled .by said transient direct current.

14. In combination, .a transformer having a primary winding and a :secondary winding, a primary circuit including a source ofalternating current and said :primary winding, means for passing current of only onepolarity, a secondary circuit including said secondary winding and said means iorpassing current of only one polarity, means for periodically interrupting the direct current thus produced in said secondary circuit and thereby producing transient direct current in said primary circuit of a givenpolarity whensaid direct current insaid secondary circuit is interruptediand of the opposite polarity when said direct current is. againstarted in said secondary circuit, a direct'curreiitneutral relay having two control windings so connected withsaid ;.primary circuit that-one ofwsaid windings is energized by saidtransient direct current of said given polarity and the otheris energized'hy. said transient direct current of the opposite polarity, and electrical apparatus controlled by said neutral relay.

15. :In a trackcircuitfor ,a coded, cab signalsystem, including .a source for supplying alternating current to said track circuit and also includin coding. means for periodically interrupting said current, the combination comprising, a transformer, having a primary winding'and a-secondary winding, aprimary circuitior energizingsaid primary :winding .fromsaid source each time when current is :supplied to said 'itrack circuit, 'means for-massing current'of only'one polarity, :arsecondary-circuit including the secondary winding of :said transformer :and .saidmeans :Eor passing current of only one polarity, ;a direct :currentu'elaysshaving two windingssso connected-With the primary winding of said transformer .that-onezof said-windings is energizedaby transient-direct "cunrent .of a given polarity Leach time.:said "primary winding :becomes energized .by said primary fcircuit and the otherislenergized by transientdirect current of the ;opposite polarity "each time said gprimary circuit becomes adeenergized, 'and a contact 'ofrsaid relay :controlled tabeclosedday said transient :direct currents uof both polarities and included in said track circuit.

16. ;In traffic protection apparatus. in which a stretch of railway track isdivided into .two sections insulated from each other, thecombination comprising, a transformer having ta primary winding connected across therailsof onep'ofrsaid sections and having a secondary winding connected across the rails of the :otherof-said sections, an asymmetric unit also .connectedracross 1'2 the :rails :of said :other section, ,a coding device, asource ofqalternating current rconnected across the rails of said one section, means controlled :by said coding devicelfor coding {the current flowing fromsaid secondarywinding through said asymmetric .nnitfand thereby producing transient .di-

rect current inisaid primary Winding, and direct.

current means operated by said transient direct current. v

:17; :In .traflic protection I apparatus in which a stretch o'rzrailway track is .dividedinto two sectionsinsulatedlfrom each other, the combination comprising, 'a transformer having ,a primary winding connected across the .rails of .one ofssaid sections and having ,a secondary winding connected across the railsof the other of said sections, an asymmetric unit also connected-across the s-railsof. said other section, a coding device, a source of alternating current connected across theirails of said one sectionthrough a front con-V direct current means.

tact of said coding device,.means comprising 1.2.. frontcontact of saidcoding deviceior codingithe current flowing .from said secondary winding throughsaidasymmetric unit and thereby-effecting-the production of transient direct current in said primary winding, adirect current relay having two control windings, and means controlled by front and back contacts of said coding device for energizing one and then the otherof said control windings respectively by said transient .direct current.

18. In combination, a: transformer havinga primary winding and a secondary winding,an asymmetric unit, a secondary circuit including said secondary winding andsaid asymmetric -.unit, a source of alternating current energy, direct current meanaaprimary circuit'for energizing said primary winding from said source, means for coding thedirect current in said secondary circuit for producing transient direct'current in said primary winding for operating said direct current means, means forobstructing the; passage of said transient directlcurrent from said primary ,winding through said source of alternating current energy, and-anlelectrical device controlled by said PAUL N. MARTIN.

'Rferences Cited in the file .of thispatent UNITED STATES ,PATENTS Germany, Oct. 26,1932 

